Slum Village (sort of) break up

The story of Slum Village will likely go down in hip-hop history as one of the genre’s grandest tragedies. And not as the sort of insipid, Behind the Music-style cautionary tale that’s marred the memories of Biggie, Tupac, and others. Slum Village didn’t lose it all in a whirlwind of sex, drugs, and guns; they simply got mercilessly fucked over by man and nature in ways that would make Sophocles blush.

Slum Village’s problems started early. Label politics at A&M prevented their acclaimed 1996 debut Fan-tas-tic (Volume 1) from seeing a proper release until fucking 2005. Good move, thankfully defunct A&M, because having a record to push couldn’t possibly have helped Slum Village crack the mainstream when they opened for A Tribe Called Quest on the group’s farewell tour in 1998. But everybody gets fucked over by their label, you say. When did the cosmos decide to take a swipe at Slum Village? A couple of times, actually: first, when former member and current hip-hop martyr Jay Dee succumbed to lupus in 2006, and again in 2009 when crucial MC Baatin died of unknown causes.

The group’s future has been in limbo ever since Baatin’s death, but the manager of eLZhi, Dilla’s SV replacement, appears to have finally put a fork in the whole thing. According to Hex Murda (yes, this is the man eLZhi trusts with his career), “For all intents and purposes concerning eLZhi, Slum Village is defunct.” He went on to say that the group’s upcoming LP Villa Manifesto, out July 27 on E1 Records, will be the last under the Slum Village name. But just to make things even more confusing, SV’s manager responded by saying that founding member T3 has no intention of retiring the Slum Village name just yet, planning instead “to take Slum Village as a brand to the next level.” And while the marketing possibilities of Slum Village™ are exciting, without Dilla, Baatin, or Elzhi, what’s left to brand besides the group’s sterling legacy? And is it worth it for T3 to live in the past if only to enjoy the success that Slum Village should have obtained in its heyday? You be the judge or something!

Just when you thought your friends weren’t looking and it was safe to come-down off of this hypnogogia trip that you’ve been on for the past 18 months or so (with all these weird artistic notions of “photocopies of photocopies” and whatnot that you don’t really understand)… you’ve gotta think again. The ambient-punk fever-dream that is Deerhunter is back, baby, and they’re bringing their fourth LP with them. Pop another Tylenol 3, my friend. The forecast is looking haaaaazzzzzaaay!

This new LP, entitled Halcyon Digest, is due September 28 via good old 4AD. And, like the good chopped-and-screwed punk ethicists that they are, frontman Bradford Cox and his cronies are promoting it by encouraging fans to download and print out a promotional poster from their new website and stick it up somewhere gnarly around town. Street-teamers who take a picture of their promo effort and email it to flyers@halcyondigest.com will receive an email link to download the album’s as-of-yet unannounced lead single, as well as a non-album bonus cut. Sounds like fair compensation for services rendered, eh?

Well, what are you waiting for, dude? You heard Bradford Cox: get out there and waste some paper in the name of rock and roll!

The story of Slum Village will likely go down in hip-hop history as one of the genre’s grandest tragedies. And not as the sort of insipid, Behind the Music-style cautionary tale that’s marred the memories of Biggie, Tupac, and others. Slum Village didn’t lose it all in a whirlwind of sex, drugs, and guns; they simply got mercilessly fucked over by man and nature in ways that would make Sophocles blush.

Slum Village’s problems started early. Label politics at A&M prevented their acclaimed 1996 debut Fan-tas-tic (Volume 1) from seeing a proper release until fucking 2005. Good move, thankfully defunct A&M, because having a record to push couldn’t possibly have helped Slum Village crack the mainstream when they opened for A Tribe Called Quest on the group’s farewell tour in 1998. But everybody gets fucked over by their label, you say. When did the cosmos decide to take a swipe at Slum Village? A couple of times, actually: first, when former member and current hip-hop martyr Jay Dee succumbed to lupus in 2006, and again in 2009 when crucial MC Baatin died of unknown causes.

The group’s future has been in limbo ever since Baatin’s death, but the manager of eLZhi, Dilla’s SV replacement, appears to have finally put a fork in the whole thing. According to Hex Murda (yes, this is the man eLZhi trusts with his career), “For all intents and purposes concerning eLZhi, Slum Village is defunct.” He went on to say that the group’s upcoming LP Villa Manifesto, out July 27 on E1 Records, will be the last under the Slum Village name. But just to make things even more confusing, SV’s manager responded by saying that founding member T3 has no intention of retiring the Slum Village name just yet, planning instead “to take Slum Village as a brand to the next level.” And while the marketing possibilities of Slum Village™ are exciting, without Dilla, Baatin, or Elzhi, what’s left to brand besides the group’s sterling legacy? And is it worth it for T3 to live in the past if only to enjoy the success that Slum Village should have obtained in its heyday? You be the judge or something!

Maybe you’ve heard about the amazing alt-country scene in Denver, Colorado, maybe you haven’t. If you have, you probably already know that Wovenhand’s seventh full-length album (sixth studio release), The Threshingfloor, came out June 22 on Sounds Familyre, but if you’re one of those who scorn anything with “Southern gothic” or gospel leanings in the description, then you might have dismissed David Eugene Edwards’ existence completely. A grave mistake.

The Threshingfloor was recorded in Denver at Absinthe Studios, the stomping grounds of his Americana peers Slim Cessna’s Auto Club and 16 Horsepower. In fact, the whole Denver gang is a sort of incestuous conglomerate of tattooed men in Western hats: Edwards was formerly of 16 Horsepower, along with Wovenhand bandmate Pascal Humbert; drummer Ordy Garrison used to drum for Slim Cessna; and just to tie it together, The Threshingfloor was co-produced by Edwards and Robert Ferbrache, a longtime collaborator/producer for Wovenhand and 16HP.

The themes and sounds of the new album extend beyond the Southwest and Colorado, however, by taking in Eastern and Balkan vibes. Don’t believe me? Download “His Rest” from the new album here to find out for yourself. Who doesn’t like cultural fusion these days?

So why are we reporting on an album that came out last month? Well, as many artists tend to do, Wovenhand is touring in support of said release. The month of July is all Europe, but this fall, he takes the stage with Serena-Maneesh. Now come on, Jay Munly, and release a new album too!

On one of their previous tours, of Montreal brought out a white horse every night for Kevin Barnes to sit atop. This time around, they’re planning to top themselves in the fall by bringing along an entire zoo-load of animals. Lions, tigers, and bears, oh no… just kidding. There is no telling what antics of Montreal will try to pull off on their forthcoming tour. Two things are for sure though: Janelle Monáe will be supporting most of the tour, and of Montreal will be supporting their new albumFalse Priest, which is due September 14 from Polyvinyl Records, and also features guest appearances from Monáe and Solange Knowles.

How much would you pay for a live album from L.A.’s maniac party starters Captain Ahab? If you said zero dollars, you have an impressive grasp of the market as Captain Ahab dictates. Captain Ahab have, in fact, released a live album, The Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, at the low, low price of zero dollars, which can be downloaded here through Cock Rock Disco. In a related note, I would pay a million dollars to think up a record label name as good as Cock Rock Disco.

If free live albums aren’t live enough for you, then perhaps you should go see Captain Ahab on their summer tour. That is, assuming you live in Europe, because this summer tour offer is pretty much limited to European consumers. Those shows are also probably less free, but they are more abundant in bearded dudes. It’s the beard you’re paying for, really.